Trio of drug charges at Lawton prison opens window to smuggling, trafficking

Charges filed in separate cases involving drugs and other contraband at the Lawton Correctional Facility offer different windows into how the drugs get behind bars as well as their use as trade.

Prisoner charged with meth trafficking

A felony charge of trafficking in illegal drugs was filed Wednesday in Comanche County District Court for Brian Joseph Jarrett, 32, records indicate.

Oklahoma Department of Corrections Office of the Inspector General Agent Jared White stated it was while investigating a woman accused of bringing contraband to the prison, 8607 SE Flower Mound Road, that he learned of an incident on Nov. 4, 2023. On that day, Jarrett was assigned to inmate visitations as an orderly and was serving as photographer to take photos of inmates and their families, the probable cause affidavit states.

While in the visitation area, Jarrett was seen with food items although he was not allowed to receive items from inmates or visitors to take extra photos, White stated. Inside his camera bag, investigators recovered 95 grams of methamphetamine, the affidavit states. Among the food items were: a boneless riblet, two pepperoni pizzas, four cheeseburgers, cheddar potato chips, four sodas, three candy bars and a large bag of Sweet Tarts, all purchased from vending machines.

Jarrett was fired as photographer and interviewed. He admitted the woman was visiting another inmate and was giving extra photos for food items, according to the affidavit. He told White he didn’t know the woman’s name.

Records indicate the woman has not been charged as of Thursday.

Jarrett has four prior felony convictions: Pottawatomie County, February 2017, endangering others while eluding police; Pontotoc County, April 2018, first-degree robbery by force or fear, second-degree burglary and false personation.

Duo caught on prison ground

Marcel Jeremiah Suniga, 23, and Caleb Jordan Harrison, 18, each made initial appearances Wednesday in Comanche County District Court where they were charged with felony counts of attempting to bring drugs and cellphones into a penal institution, and conspiracy, records indicate.

The pair were discovered carrying a green backpack around 1:15 a.m. Tuesday on the prison property. They fled but were later detained on the north end of the property, Agent Travis Crawford stated. Inside the backpack, investigators discovered 26.8 ounces of leafy marijuana, 33.6 ounces of marijuana wax, and a sealed envelope with papers that appeared to have been sprayed or dipped with K2 synthetic marijuana, the affidavit states.

Drone footage was reviewed and showed one suspect carrying another “Paw Patrol” backpack containing eight new touch screen cellphones, 21 lighters, four sheets of paper soaked with suspected K2, five charging cords, three charging blocks and 28.7 ounces of loose tobacco, the affidavit states.

Each man is being held on $10,000 bond.

Ongoing trend

These charges add the two dozen cases involving contraband or attempts to get it behind prison walls since 2023, according to Constitution records.

Among the methods used to attempt to get contraband behind bars, outside of visitors or prison employees, investigators have said they have people attempt to air drop packages by using drones and by throwing contraband-filled footballs over the fences among others.